[HANASHIR:8289] Re: Healing

[Judah Cohen <jcohen...>]

Ah, Shirona, you've not been to medical school in a while. . .
One of the most important things my wife is learning on her way to being a
doctor is that you don't treat the *disease* as much as you treat the
individual PATIENT.  In order to treat them, you need to understand
individuals as PEOPLE, with unique and complex histories and bodies, as well
as directives for healing.  A good doctor will then personalize treatment to
make certain the healing is most complete.

By trying so hard to identify and "eradicate" the "disease" of "Kol Isha,"
Shirona, I feel you have neglected to deal with many of us as people.  You
have tried to enlighten us with "simple" truths in such fields ranging from
Halachah to Biblical and women's studies, and now to psychiatry and
medicine; yet I feel you did not EVEN ONCE tried to understand or address AS
PEOPLE those who did not completely subscribe to your ideas.  Instead, you
have treated a number of responses by using "types" ("Men"/"Women"), and
insisted that you knew the problems with all of us (even if we wouldn't
acknowledge them).  Your approach would not have worked in psychiatry or
medicine; why do you think this is a way to inspire healing on this
list--especially in the exact same terms with which you started your
diatribe?  

>From what I have seen, this list has been a wonderful forum for people to
voice their opinions on a rich variety of topics, some controversial, some
less so.  As has been said on this list before, I feel you have done argued
your point strongly and eloquently.  But perhaps now you might do more good
by acknowledging that you wish to be a part of this healing as well, rather
than just its architect.  "Tikkun Olam," in my opinion, cannot be used for
political means.  Instead, in order to heal (and here I mean from the past
debate, *not* from "Kol Isha" which to me is a social regulation and not a
disease), it is important first to understand where people are coming from.
This does not mean you have to agree with them; but it does mean trusting
that their perspectives will contribute to the process.

Judah

PS:  In India, among other places, there are groups of emasculated males
called "hijras" who are treated and classified as a third sex.  They are a
marginal group--but in at least one or two districts of India (if you want I
could give more specific information), they have been voted into positions
of political power in part *because* they are neither man nor woman.

From: "shirona" <shirona (at) bellatlantic(dot)net>
Reply-To: hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org
Date: Tue, 20 Feb 2001 22:26:23 -0800
To: <jewish-music (at) shamash(dot)org>, <hanashir (at) shamash(dot)org>
Subject: [HANASHIR:8286] Healing


As the debate rages on - concerning the Kol Isha Ervah issue, I'm still
surprised, and disappointed, that so few people  focus on the fundamental
premise of the problem.  In medicine, and in psychology, it is common
knowledge that for true healing to take place - one needs to get to the CORE
of the problem. In order to cure Cancer - we need to kill every cancer cell
in the body, because if we don't - it will develop all over again.  In
healing relationships we try our best to get to the bottom line of what is
causing the problem - because if we don't - the same problem will erupt
again, just like the cancer.

Can we all agree that we have a serious problem here?  Can we all agree that
we need  healing?  

We need to get to the root of this "pathology".  Why are we wasting so much
time and energy on  minutiae? How much longer can this dialogue continue
poking around the surface?   It's like trying to heal Cancer with band-aids.
If we don't understand why this problem is so tough to resolve, - we will
never heal.  It will never just "go away".

I asked this question before - but no one answered me yet. (except for a
"diss" from Eric...)

There are only TWO sexes in this world,  to the best of my knowledge.  Is it
OK that one sex has the power to make all the rules that bind both sexes,
and that the other sex has no say in that process.  For me it is that
simple, and the answer is either yes or no. If this is not the core issue -
then what is?

Adrian, I hope you don't find this posting too "off-topic".  I'm actually
trying to hasten a "conclusion"!

With much respect and anticipation for the full spectrum of opinions out
there.

Shirona 


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* * *  Singer / Songwriter and Teacher of Jewish Music * * *
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